barsmarts.com
barsmarts.com BarSmarts Wired Wave 3 is now open to enrollment through October 31. The online program from Pernod Ricard USA is open twice a year in two to four month intervals. Unlike “invitation only” BarSmarts Advanced, Wired offers any bartender an opportunity to participate and become certified through a password-protected... Read More
BATTLE FOR WORLD’S STRONGEST BEER TITLE
There’s been a bitter beer battle going on for some years between the Dutch and the Scots and it just keeps getting stranger. The title of World’s Strongest Beer has gone back and forth now several times between Dutch brewer ‘t Koelschip (The Refrigerated Ship) and Scottish brewer BrewDog. First,... Read More
A BOOST FOR BEER?
Can microbreweries jump start the ailing beer industry? Based on their success over the last few years, it’s certainly a possibility. A bipartisan group of senators is pushing a plan to cut taxes on the nation’s small brewers in hopes of stimulating hiring among craft brewers. Introduced by Massachusetts’ own... Read More
BUBBLY IN THE BALCTIC
Who needs fancy wine cellars? Apparently the ocean works perfectly to preserve vintage bubbly. Divers recently discovered what is thought to be the world’s oldest drinkable champagne in a shipwreck 2OO-feet down in the Baltic Sea near the Aland Islands, between Sweden and Finland. Diving instructor Christian Ekstrom said the... Read More
GLOBAL WARMING: GOOD FOR SOMETHING?
Global warming may be wreaking havoc on our planet but, for the Riesling industry at least, it’s been a boon. The recent Riesling Rendezvous conference highlighted the benefits that warm temperatures have bestowed upon the industry. The conference, hosted by winemaker Ernie Loosen and the president of Château Ste Michelle,... Read More
SEEKING CLOSURE?
Stelvins and corks, watch out!There’s a new wine closure on the block and it promises to shake things up. Capabunga is a reusable silicone capsule for a wine bottle that’s made to resemble the bungs used in winemaking and will fit on most standard bottles. The concept was created by... Read More
PALM BAY INTERNATIONAL
STEPHANIE KUBACKI has been appointed as Senior Director of Marketing. In this newly created position, Kubacki will oversee strategic development, consumer and trade advertising and key initiatives for Palm Bay’s spirits portfolio including Aperol, Skinnygirl Margarita, Frapin Cognac, and other brands. Kubacki has worked in the beverage alcohol industry for... Read More
TEQUILA PARTIDA
KEVIN MOODIE has been named Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, US. Moodie was formerly President of Scottish & Newcastle Importers but left when the parent company was acquired by Heineken NV and Carlsberg Breweries A/S, and the US subsidiary shut down.
MAKER’S MARK
GREG DAVIS joins the company as Director of Distillery Operations. Davis comes to Maker’s Mark with extensive experience in the bourbon industry – having most recently served as Master Distiller at the Tom Moore Distillery (formerly Barton’s) for the past 1O years. During that time, Davis was instrumental in driving... Read More